Protect your business - Fast & Affordable.

Illinois Construction Insurance

Illinois Construction Insurance. Building contractors manage the construction of a new building or renovation to an existing building. Building contractors generally specialize in constructing single family homes or commercial buildings such as factories, offices, restaurants, or stadiums. Most have a set group of permanent employees, and then subcontract the remaining tasks to specialty subcontractors.

While firms whose employees do no actual construction work are commonly called "paper" contractors, they generally act as "prime" contractors for such tasks as framing carpentry, structural masonry, or metal building erection. Mechanical tasks such as plumbing, heating, and electrical are usually completed by subcontractors.

Once the land has been purchased and the design or architectural work has been done, the building contractor oversees the project from the site or land preparation, through excavation and laying of the foundation, to the completion of the building, including the interior finish.

Typically, the building contractor first turns the architect's design into specifications for work and materials, setting quality standards, scheduling the phases of the project, and dictating insurance requirements for the project as a whole and for the subcontractors. The contractor then gets bids (solicits competitive proposals) from potential subcontractors and suppliers. Together with the customer (the project owner), the building contractor awards the bids to the successful subcontractors.

The building contractor is also responsible for complying with all local and state ordinances, codes and zoning requirements, including purchasing the necessary permits and obtaining the necessary surety bonds.

With the right mix of Illinois construction insurance coverage types in place, you can reduce financial fallout from injuries on the jobsite, damage to equipment, and losses that result from other covered perils.

Illinois construction insurance protects your contracting business from legal liability with rates as low as $97/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Risks Faced by Construction Companies

Construction companies and independent homebuilders, carpenters, and others working in the industry are under constant exposure to risks that can leave them financially liable for damages.

Some of the most common types of risks include property damage to the company's equipment or property, loss of income due to events beyond the company's control, ideuries and illnesses experienced by employees, and liability risks when injuries or property damage causes loss for clients or other third parties.

The Role of Construction Insurance

Construction insurance is a type of insurance that can be the difference between losing money and turning a profit when you take on a construction job. It is vital that you make sure that you have quality IL construction insurance and adequate coverage before taking on work. The coverage that you select depends on a variety of factors, which include the company size, the number of employees you have working for you, and the specific type of construction work that your company performs.

Some of the types of Illinois construction insurance coverage you might consider include:

General liability coverage. This type of coverage reduces financial risks for your construction business if you are deemed responsible for bodily harm or property harm to another person. General liability is usually required for all worker's in the construction industry in order to obtain a construction or contractor's license or permit.

Builder's risk coverage. This is liability construction coverage for IL on-site damages that might occur on a job site that you are working on. Although the coverage provided varies by company, this policy may also provide coverage for construction materials that are on the site, prior to their installation. Limits for the Illinois construction insurance policy are based on the value of the completed structure, in most cases.

Professional liability coverage. If you are a contractor who provides consultation, advice, or design work as part of the services rendered, then professional liability coverage can protect you from any allegation of wrongdoing if the advice or consultation goes south. Also referred to by the name 'errors and omissions' coverage, this insurance type covers any claims against you if your advice, design, so on, causes the recipient of your services a loss.

Income loss coverage. If you experience a business interruption that results in loss of income due to a covered peril, this type of coverage can provide monetary help for up to a year.

Worker's compensation. IL requires this valuable coverage if you have employees. This provides coverage for employee losses due to accident, injury, illness, or death. It can also pay medical costs.

Commercial auto coverage. If you use a vehicle in the course of doing business in IL, then that vehicle should have auto coverage specially designed for commercial use. This coverage pays for losses by both you and anyone involved in an accident that you or your employees cause.

Business Owner's Policies for Construction Businesses

A BOP, or business owner's policy, is often an appropriate type of Illinois construction insurance coverage. If you have a small business, this policy, which combines multiple coverages, may be right for you. To qualify, you should generate $5 million or less in revenue annually and hire no more than 100 employees. These IL construction insurance policies generally provide:

General liability coverage to pay up to $1 million in losses due to injuries or damages incurred by a third party.

Medical payments for injuries to people on your property.

Property coverage for damage to your business' property and equipment.

Business income loss for business interruption and work stoppage.

Equipment breakdown coverage for mechanical breakdowns.

Rental vehicle insurance for losses to a rented or borrowed vehicle.

Cost of Construction Insurance

A variety of factors determine the cost of your Illinois construction insurance premiums. The type of work that you do, the amount of work that you do, the number of employees you have, and your history of claims all factor into your costs. If you construct high-value buildings or other structures or you develop land from the ground up, your costs may be increased. In some cases, you will pay a particular percentage of your expected sales as a premium, with monthly payments to follow.

Illinois Construction Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposures at the contractor's premises are usually limited due to lack of public access. Equipment or materials provided by subcontractors are not stored at the building contractor's office location. At the job site, the building contractor is ultimately responsible for all injuries or property damage that results from construction operations, including those that are due to the acts or omissions of subcontractors.

Lack of adequate communication between the different subcontractors can cause hazardous working conditions, especially if blasting or similar hazardous operations take place. Heavy machinery used for excavation may cut power lines, disrupting service to other homes or businesses in the vicinity. Welding presents potential for burns or setting the property of others on fire if not conducted safely.

The contractor's employees can cause damage to the client's other property or bodily injury to members of the public or employees of other contractors. Tools, power cords, and scrap all pose trip hazards even when not in use. If there is work at heights, falling tools, or supplies may cause damage and injury if dropped from ladders, scaffolding, or cranes. Failure to protect equipment, building materials, and property of others left at job sites from theft and vandalism may result in a subrogated loss.

Construction sites create attractive nuisance hazards, particularly to children who enjoy climbing and vandals after operations have ceased for the day and on weekends. Safety barriers such as perimeter fencing should be used to control access to the jobsite.

Contractual liability exposures are very high for building contractors. While it is important to control physical hazards, the absolute key to successful performance is likely to be management of contractual language. Catastrophic financial losses and expensive litigation may arise if the building contractor fails to verify that subcontractors' certificates of insurance are accurate and the limits are adequate for both liability and workers compensation coverages.

In addition, the building contractor and project owner must be included as additional insureds on the subcontractors' policies. The specific terms of the additional insured status may play a significant role in who pays for a loss.

Completed operations exposures are high due to the injury and property damage that can result from improper interpretation of building plans, use of materials that do not meet the quality standards required by design specifications, inadequate construction techniques, or lax supervision of the acts of subcontractors. Hazards increase in the absence of proper record keeping of work orders and change orders, as well as quality control inspections and signed approval of the finished work by the customer.

Workers compensation exposures vary based on the size and nature of the job. When an executive supervisor is only reviewing and giving oversight, the exposure is clerical with some jobsite inspection. However, if actual construction work is done or supervisors remain at job sites continuously, the exposures increase to those encountered by each type of worker on the project.

Control of the jobsite is the responsibility of the building contractor, who may be held responsible for any injuries of subcontractors on the job. Verification that every subcontractor carries adequate workers compensation coverage is important.

Property exposures at the building contractor's own location are usually limited to that of an office. Ignition sources include electrical wiring, heating, and air conditioning systems. If the building contractor is a paper contractor, there will be no yard storage of building materials or equipment since there are no operations other than paperwork.

If the building contractor is involved in framework or masonry, lumber or bricks may be stored on site, increasing the exposure to fire, inclement weather, vandalism, and theft.

Crime exposure is from employee dishonesty. Background checks should be conducted prior to hiring any employee. All ordering, billing and disbursements must be handled as separate duties and annual external audits conducted.

Surety bond exposures arise from the clients' requirement that the general contractor obtain financial guarantees for the completion of projects and payment of labor and supplies. Inability of the contractor to qualify for these bonds due to their prior experience and financial condition may indicate a moral hazard.

Inland marine exposures may include accounts receivable if the contractor bills customers for services, builders' risk, contractors' equipment, goods in transit, installation floater, and valuable papers and records for project plans, clients', subcontractors', and suppliers' information. Builders' Risk is an important coverage for many building contractors.

Besides obtaining coverage for themselves, they may need to coordinate their subcontractors' coverages and terms so limits are adequate for the overall project. Subcontractors generally have their own equipment with independent coverage. The building contractor may arrange for the lease of larger equipment, such as cranes, for subcontractors to use, either with or without operators.

The contractual agreements between the building contractor and the rental firms determine who is responsible for any damage to the rented equipment. If the building contractor performs tasks at the job site, equipment may be subject to water hazards, overturn, drop, and fall from heights, or being struck by other vehicles. Materials and equipment left at job sites may be subject to theft and vandalism loss unless proper controls are in place. Copies of building plans should be kept at an offsite location for easier restoration.

Commercial auto exposures may be limited to private passenger only if executive supervisors simply travel from site to site. If the building contractor is also handling part of the construction, workers, equipment, and supplies may be transported to and from job sites.

Vehicles may have special modifications or built-in equipment such as lifts and hoists. Large materials such as air conditioners may be awkward and require special handling and tie-down procedures. Shifting of loads could result in overturn. If vehicles are provided to employees, there should be written procedures regarding personal use by employees and their family members. All drivers must have appropriate licenses and acceptable MVRs. Vehicles must be maintained and the records kept in a central location.

Finding the Right Policy for Your Needs

Finding the right Illinois construction insurance is easiest when you work with a professional insurance agent who understands the construction industry. An agent who works with general contractors, heavy contractors, home-improvement companies, and specialized contractors such as electricians, plumbers, framers, carpenters, or masons is most adept to understanding your needs and helping tailor a policy for your needs. The agent can also help you compare quotes from multiple companies to get the right policy for your budget, based on the requirements you have and the individual perils that your business faces during day-to-day operation.

Illinois Economic Data & Business Insurance Requirements

For moguls who are thinking about conducting business-related affairs in Illinois, it's important to have an understanding of the state's economic outlook. It's also a wise idea to familiarize yourself with the regulations regarding IL commercial insurance.

Here we provide some insight regarding the data that pertains to economy of Illinois. We also provide a brief overview about the types of commercial insurance coverage business owners are required to invest in, or should invest in, even if it isn't mandatory.

Business Economic Trends In The State Of Illinois

According to several reports that compile the economic data for each of the 50 states and compare that information to the national average, Illinois isn't in the best position. While there has been some improvement, the gains have only been slight. Income and employment rates have risen, and the housing market has increases; however, the gains in these areas have been minimal, especially when compared to the gains that other states have experienced.

While the unemployment rate has improved, falling to 4.8 percent in 2017 after it was stuck at a rate of almost 6 percent in 2016 and 2015, it appears that in reality, the IL labor force and employment gains are contradicting. In 2019, tens of thousands of people fell out of the state's labor force.

Looking to the future, it is predicted that while the employment rate in Illinois will grow, the rate at which it will grow will be much lower than the national average. Currently the projected annual job growth of the state is .5 percent. Following are some of the largest industries in IL.

Agriculture

Exports

Manufacturing

Mining

Service Industries

Illinois Commercial Insurance Regulations

The Illinois Department of Insurance regulates insurance in IL. Businesses are required to carry workers compensation insurance. Workers comp is mandatory for any business that employs either an hourly or a salaried workforce, even if that workforce is just one person. Organizations are also required to carry IL commercial auto insurance if they use vehicles for any business-related reasons, such as deliveries, transport, or client visits.

General liability insurance is not required, nor is commercial property insurance; however, it is a wise idea for companies to invest in this type of coverage, as it will safeguard from lawsuits or losses that their properties could sustain.

Additional Resources For Contractors & Home Improvement Insurance

Learn about small business contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your contracting business from lawsuits.

If a contractor wants to begin or stay in business, liability coverage must be obtained for the premises or operations, off-site locations and products/completed operations exposures. These coverages may be included as a part of a businessowners policy (BOP) or purchased in a commercial general liability (CGL) policy. Owners and contractors protective liability and railroad protective liability coverages may also be required in certain cases in order for a contractor to obtain a particular job.

Many contractors do not have the usual location-specific buildings and business personal property exposures. Their business property is more mobile and, therefore, better covered with inland marine coverage forms. However, for those larger contractors that own buildings and/or maintain business inventory there are many coverage forms and choices available to them.

Contractors use their vehicles to get to and from their workplaces and jobsites. They also use vehicles to transport equipment and inventory to those locations. It is important to cover the liability of these vehicles for injury or damage they may cause, as well as to provide coverage for damage to the vehicles themselves.

Employers are required to provide coverage for injuries sustained by their employees while on the job. Contractors must comply with these requirements but some try to avoid them by hiring subcontractors. These subcontractors may actually operate and qualify as employees. The relationship between a contractor and its subcontractors must be carefully evaluated in order to determine if workers compensation coverage is still needed.